Enable SSH password login

On Linux images, hostd disables SSH password login by default. This guide explains how to turn it on manually in the guest OS.

Before you begin

• VM in running state.
• Access to the VM by SSH key or noVNC console.
• VM user password from create or reinstall.

Steps

1. Sign in to the VM by SSH key or VM → Console.
2. Create /etc/ssh/sshd_config.d/99-password-auth.conf with the line PasswordAuthentication yes.
3. Restart SSH: systemctl restart ssh (Debian, Ubuntu) or systemctl restart sshd (AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux).
4. Connect by SSH with the VM user password.

Watch out

• Password login is less secure than SSH keys — enable it only if you really need it.
• After reinstall, initial system setup disables SSH password login again — repeat these steps if you still need password SSH.
• If SSH does not respond, check the VM firewall and the guest OS firewall.